Rockyford, Alta., rink had no CO detectors during significant leak: mayor

A faulty heater at the Rockyford Arena caused a carbon monoxide leak on Dec. 14, 2024.

There were no carbon monoxide (CO) detectors inside a hockey rink in Rockyford, Alta., that experienced a significant leak over the weekend sending multiple children to hospital and making dozens more sick.

The fire department was called to the arena around 7 p.m. on Saturday after multiple children became ill due to CO exposure. Crews detected CO levels of 90 parts per million in the lobby of the building, according to Rockyford Mayor Darcy Burke.

The building was then evacuated and ventilated.

The cause of the high CO levels was determined to be a faulty exhaust pipe on a radiant heater. Burke said there was no alarm as there were no CO detectors in the building.

“I don’t know why there would not be an alarm in the building. I do know none of our public buildings in town have carbon monoxide detectors in them so it’s something we’ll be looking at in the future. Public safety is always paramount,” Burke said.

Detectors have been ordered and will be installed in the arena next Monday, according to the mayor.

The facility will remain closed until the faulty parts are repaired. The town hopes to have the parts installed by the end of the week.

The building, built in the 70s, is set to undergo an inspection to make sure things are up to code.

“We’re very concerned as a community. We’re a small tight knit place. We enjoy having folks coming to our community and utilize or recreation facility,” the mayor said.

“Public safety is paramount, and we will take any and all steps necessary to protect people and make sure they are safe here. And best wishes for the kids and everyone involved there that afternoon and a speedy recovery.”

Parents who were at the arena over the weekend said four hockey teams were playing at the time – three from Calgary and one from Edmonton.

They reported that kids were not feeling well and getting tired, forcing them to leave the games. They assumed a bug was going around or the kids had eaten something that made them sick.

Dozens of kids were sick, according to the parents, with some passing out and throwing up.

Burke said he was told six children were taken to the Alberta Children’s Hospital, with three spending the night on Saturday.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) said EMS was not called to the arena and they did not transport anyone to hospital. Any patients that were taken to hospital would have been brought by family members.

One mother told CTV News there were at least 30 children, around the age of 10, at the Alberta Children’s Hospital after the incident.

Rockyford is located approximately 86 kilometres northeast of Calgary

More details to come…